Bible based giving should be easy to teach - why is there often resistance?
Grape vines don't groan while producing grapes; and giving is fruit that comes naturally from a healthy vine rooted in good soil.
Let's take a moment and make simple the tangled wording about biblical giving. Some of the phrases we can condense with one piece of Bible based advise: tithes, offerings, stewardship gifts, faith promise, planned giving, church legacy gifts, building fund gifts, Spirit led giving, and joyful giving. The last one is the key, the sum of biblical giving advice.
God loveth a cheerful giver.
Tough Love and Cheerful Giving
can these two go together?
Perhaps that is why so few sermons about giving are preached; in many churches just once a year.
To raise money for a church only on "stewardship Sunday" seems a bit restrained. It is just too easy to upset people when talking about money. It is also too easy to emphasize obligation and emotions such as guilt when such messages are given.
To further confuse the issue; perhaps you are supposed to give nothing. A gift for the wrong reasons, to the wrong recipient, or at the wrong time; could be harmful.
As a Christian what you really want to know is how much to give, if any; and where to give it. The simple answer is: if you already have a leading of God to give, and you can do it cheerfully, than give. Jesus has already proven you can't out give God.
Back to the Biblical Giving Bible Study:
The first step of giving is to realize there is more then just one type of tithe, and there are many types of offerings. The second step is deciding where to begin.
God said to the delivered "For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; but this thing I commanded them saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7: 22,23
We now, due to our acceptance of the cleansing sacrifice of Christ, have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. With this access we can seek God's will concerning all areas of our life, including financial.
How and where to tithe or offer gifts unto God? We must ask him, our obedience to his will confirms that we are his people -- and it will be well with us.
Your relationship with God is personal
Keep your giving personal too. Give cheerfully as God directs. Pay no attention to social pressures and emotional pleas.
How do you learn to hear God's voice?
But what of those ministries that say they will close their doors without more funds? If God wants them to stand - they will stand. If not, let them fall.
George Muller is a great study in prayer and faith. He followed God and always seemed to be on the edge. God always delivered. Supporting thousands of orphans and supplying international ministries, he did it all by believing God, telling no one but God of the orphanage's needs.
God provided by directing obedient believers, and by changing circumstances - he still does both today.
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. - Luke 12: 6,7
From George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles:
Reverend Muller undertook nothing, even the smallest expenditure, unless he felt it was the will of God. He was asked how he sought the will of God. This is his reply:
1. "I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.
2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impressions. If so, I make my self liable to great delusions.
3. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through or in connection with the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay my self open to great delusions also.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.
6. Thus through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and it continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly."
Mr. Muller was asked how well this worked.
"I never remember", he wrote in 1895, three years before his death at the age of 93, "in all my Christian course, a period now of sixty-nine years and four months, that I ever SINCERELY and PATIENTLY sought to know the will of God by the teaching of the Holy Ghost through the instrumentality of the Word of God, but I have always been directed rightly. But if honesty of heart and uprightness before God were lacking, or I did not patiently wait upon the Lord for instruction, or if I preferred the counsel of my fellow men to the declarations of the Word of the living God, I made great mistakes."
Read any of George Muller's books, they will help you see what is possible in Christ Jesus.
We can learn many lessons from great men of faith.
Here I have highlighted just one, George Muller.
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Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.Some direct Bible study is your first task.
We learn to hear and recognize God's voice by spending time in his word.
Notice he does not mention a tithe. Notice he states he has not accepted any gifts lest he create a hindrance to the spread of the gospel.
As Christ said in Luke 10:5 "And into whatsoever house you enter, first say, peace be to this house." and then in Luke 10:7, "And in The same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire."
If you read the whole chapter in Luke you will see there is no reference to a tithe, just such food as those in the house are willing to give.
There is also no talk of supporting many fancy buildings, ministry was done in people's homes. A simple church structure that would not have to go to secular sources to borrow money.
Read also all of IICorinthians chapter 9. We will start about half way through and read verses 6 and 7 "He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
No tithe mentioned.
Stressed instead was the admonition to give only if you can give cheerfully. If you are not filled with God's Joy and finding pleasure in his company, then don't give. Seek God and get in fellowship with him first.
Giving is fruit that will come from a healthy vine rooted in good soil.
The final step is to realize; "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Are you brilliant, talented, wealthy, consistent, flexible, or strong? What can you share cheerfully at God's direction? Are you weak, slow, ignorant, and poor - let God show his strength by working through you.
What are your attributes? You have much, seek where God will use you much, that it may be well with you.
Questions, testimonials, and sharing of your Biblical views are wanted.
Leave a note so others might learn.
amandascloset0 wrote...
What a wonderful lens this is! Thank you for posting it! I've very much enjoyed every one of your lenses that I've read. Fan'd, fav'd and 5 stars of course!
Posted January 08, 2009
flowergardener wrote...
Oh thank you very much for making this lens! I think it's absolutely wonderful that you showed the facts of the tithe, and having church at home! Gods Love and mine, Deb
Posted July 28, 2008
happynutritionist wrote...
Thank you for visiting my Corrie Ten Boom Squid and for your comment. I was attracted to this out of you many "Squids", our pastor always reminds us that giving is a form of worship...I am learning to give joyfully! It is so important to be in a place where you know you can trust that what is being given is used as God would want it to be. Happy Squidooing, and God bless!
Posted July 27, 2008
Need some more depth and breadth in understanding?
Not To Please Men; Nor To Please Myself; But To Please God
God doesn't need our money - our need is to honor him with obedience. Our obedience in all things is pleasing to God.
If you can't give cheerfully - don't give!
Get right with God first.
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